NC Education Code · NC Policy Manual
NC 1508-2 Student/Teacher Ratio for Preschool Children with Disabilities
Plain English summary
This regulation establishes student-to-teacher ratios and caseload requirements for preschool children with disabilities across three settings: Regular Early Childhood Program and Separate Settings (not to exceed 6 children per adult), Residential Settings (graduated staffing based on enrollment up to 12 children), and Itinerant Preschool Services (no defined caseload minimum or maximum). All caseload and ratio requirements must be flexible to reflect each child's developmental level, disability severity, and individualized service needs as outlined in their IEP.
Key requirements
- Caseload requirements must be flexible enough to provide for appropriate services in direct accord with the children's identified needs.
- Consideration must be given to each child's developmental level, severity of disability, and nature and level of services required to allow children to progress at appropriate learning rates in accomplishing specific goals.
- RECP (Inclusive) and Separate Settings that serve preschool children with disabilities should not exceed a ratio of 6 children to 1 adult.
- For more severely delayed children, additional assistants and/or lower adult-child ratios may be necessary to serve children.
- Residential setting: up to 5 children, 1 teacher; 6 to 8 children, 1 teacher, 1 assistant; 9 to 12 children, 1 teacher, 2 assistants.
- Although no minimum or maximum caseload is defined for itinerant preschool services, it must be flexible enough to provide for appropriate services as described in the child's individualized education program.
Affected parties
- Preschool children with disabilities
- Special education teachers
- Classroom assistants
- Itinerant teachers and therapists
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
- Private childcare providers serving children with disabilities
- Non-LEA administered Head Start programs
- Faith-based preschools
- Families of preschool children with disabilities